Newspaper dispensing machine



June 9, 1964 c. 'r. DEANE NEWSPAPER DISPENSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Clifford 7 Deane INVENTOK 4016 BY flu Filed Oct. 2, 1962 June 9, 1964 c. T. DEANE 3,136,451

NEWSPAPER DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Clifford 7i Deane INVENTOR.

June 9, 1964 c. T. DEANE 3,136,451

NEWSPAPER DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5

5 70 //a Fig. 9

Clifford 7'- Deane INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,136,451 NEWSPAPER DISPENSING MACHEJE Clifiord T. Deane, South Charleston, W. Va, assignor to Thor Manufacturing Corporation, Charleston, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Filed Oct. 2, H62, Ser. No. 227,775 14 Claims. (Cl. 22124(l) This invention relates to a newspaper vending machine operative to dispense a single newspaper at a time in a new and useful manner.

Newspaper vending machines generally utilized heretofore were unable to restrict dispensing to a single newspaper, relying instead upon the honesty of the customer. Dispensing machines for restricting dispensing to a single newspaper at a time, have been proposed but such proposals have apparently not been adopted because of the complexity of the mechanisms involved, the cost of manufacture and the lack of reliability in the operation of such machines. It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a newspaper vending device which is both practicable, economical in construction and more reliably operative in connection with the restricted dispensing of a single newspaper at a time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a newspaper vending device capable of restrictively dispensing a single newspaper at a time with a greater degree of reliability and with less likelihood of damage to the newspaper than was heretofore possible with prior vending devices.

A stillfurther object of the present invention is to provide a newspaper vending machine capable of restrictively dispensing a single newspaper at a time regardless of the variation in the thickness of the newspaper to be dispensed.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a newspaper dispensing machine which is operative to dispense a single newspaper at a time and in a foolproof manner so as to avoid any attempt to obtain additional copies of the newspaper.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the newspaper vending machine of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 22 in FIG- URE 1; v I

FIGURE 3 is a partial side sectional view of the newspaper vending device;

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by the section line 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 3, but illustrating the vending device in another operative condition;

FIGURES 6 through 10 are schematic diagrams illus trating the various operational phases of the newspaper vending device;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the drive linkages associated with the vending device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed from FIGURE 1 that the vending device of the present invention generally referred to by reference numeral 10 forms an enclosure assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 12 having vertical side walls 14, a solid back wall 16, a front 18 and a top closure member 20. Pivotally mounted on one side wall 14 of the closure assembly 12 is an upwardly projecting lever actuating member 22 which is manually movable from the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 upon release of the link member 24 connected to the actuating lever member, the link member 24 being locked within the coin release mechanism 26 which is also mounted on one side wall 14 of the enclosure assembly. The'coin release mechanism 26 is a conventional device operative upon insertion of the proper coinage, to release the link member 24 for movement in a forward direction so that upon completion of its forward stroke, the coin deposited within the mechanism 26 will be released into a coin collecting box, and after which return of the link member 24 to its initial position, will automatically relock the link member 24. Itwill be appreciated that the details of the coin release mechanism 26 to form no part of the present invention, since such mechanisms are readily available, it being the newspaper dispensing structure and enclosure itself that forms the basis of the present invention. Newspapers are therefore loaded Within the enclosure assembly byopem'ng the top closure member 20 which is therefore mounted on the rear wall 16 of the enclosure assembly by means of the hinge 28. The closure member 20 is therefore secured in its closed position by means of any suitable lock mechanism 3d securing the forward edge thereof. Newspapers are therefore dispensed from within the enclosure assembly by means of a slidably mounted dispensing carriage generally referred to by reference numeral 32. The front portion 18 of the enclosure assembly may also be provided with a cabinet door 34 located below the dispensing carriage 32 for storing additional newspapers or materials to be utilized by the vending machine operators.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 in particular, it will beobserved that an upper newspaper storing chamber 36 is formed within the enclosure assembly 12 between the vertical sidewalls 14, the front 18,- the rear wall 16, the top closure member 20 and a downwardly inclined bottom supporting assembly 38. The bottom supporting assembly 38 includes a pair of downwardly inclined inwardly projecting flange members 40 mounted on the side walls 14 of the closure assembly,

by a rod member 48 connected between the brackets 50 on the side walls '14. The terminal end rod member 48 is also spaced a substantial distance from the front portion 18 of the enclosure assembly so that a forward portion of the lowermost newspaper of a stack of newspapers 52 enclosed within the upper chamber 36 will be supported or rest upon the dispensing carriage 32. Also, it will be observed that the lowermost newspaper of the stack 52 will be exposed through the slot or opening 53 formed between the upper supporting surface portion 54 of the dispensing carriage and the lower edge of an adjustably positioned front panel member 56. The front panel member 56 is therefore slidably mounted between the corner frame portions 58 of the enclosure assembly and is held in adjusted position .by means of an internally located adjustment screw member 60 which is threadedly engaged with a nut formation 62 mounted on the panel member 56 at its upper end and projecting into the chamber 36. The adjustment screw member,

69 is therefore rotatably mounted by a bracket member ed in FIGURE 5.

arsenal as 64 secured to a fixed frame member as secured between the side frame portions 58, the fixed frame member 66 also mounting part of the. lock mechanism 3t? for securing the closure member 2th in locked position. Mounted between the outwardly projecting tabs d8 at the lower edge of the adjustable panel member 56 is a friction-retarding rod member 75? arranged to apply a light frictional resistance to the movement of the lowermost newspaper out'of the opening formed by the lower edge of the adjustable panel member 56 above the supporting surface portion 54 of the dispensing carriage.

The'dispensing' carriage 32 is provided with a front, downwardly inclined apron portion 72 connected to the top Supporting portion 54. Interconnecting the top and front portions 54 and 72 are side portions 74 to which is connected a rail portion 76 slidably m unted internally of' the enclosure assembly by means of the parallel track formations '78 mounted on the side wall 14 of the closure assembly. It will therefore be appreciated that in its retracted position as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the dispensing carriage 32 will support the forward portion of a lowermost newspaper on the supporting surface portion 54 thereof so that this lowermost newspaper may be withdrawn with the carriage when the carriage is displaced to its projecting or dispensing position as illustrat- The forward portion of the lowermost newspaper will rest upon the supporting surface portion 54 of the carriage because of the downward incline of the bottom supporting structure 38, which on the other hand provides the major load support for the stack of newspapers. 7

In order to cause displacement of the lowermost news paper with the dispensing carriage from the retracted.

portion 54 adjacent to the side walls 14 ofthe enclosure assembly. When in the retracted position of the dispensing device, the finger members 81 are disposed generally in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the dispensing carriage, and in suchposition, the fold-engaging fingers do not contact the newspaper. The finger members are also tapered in a rearward direction so that when they are angularly displaced in opposite directions by means of the shafts 82 connected thereto, as more clearly seen in FIGURE 11, the finger members will move between the fold of the lowermost newspaper of the newspaper stack 52 so that subsequent movement of the dispensing carriage 32 will pull the forward portion of the lowermost newspaper out of the chamber 36 against the light frictional resistance of the rod member '79 which is adjustably positioned in contact with the lowermost newspaper. It will accordingly be appreciated that the position of the panel member 56 supporting the rod '71) must be adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the individual newspapers.

In order to assure that the fold-engaging finger members are simultaneously displaced from positions parallel to the direction of movement of the dispensing carriage to positions perpendicular thereto, each of the finger shafts 62 is rotatably mounted by the top supporting surface 54 of the carriage by means of the journal sleeves 84 projecting therebelow, the lower ends of the shafts 82 being connected to bevel gears 86. The. bevel gears 86 in turn mesh with bevel gears 83 connected to the opposite ends of the shaft 90 which is journaled by the dispensing carriage 32 below the supporting surface 54 by means of a plurality of spaced journal brack- I and an elongated stop member 96 fixedly mounted on the carriage below the supporting surface portion 54. It will therefore be appreciated that angular displacement of the lever arm 94 from the position illustrated in FIG- URE 3 will initially cause angular displacement of the fold engaging fingers $0 in opposite directions to position them perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage thereby engaging the fold of the lowermost newspaper, the latter perpendicular positions of the foldengaging finger members being determined by abutment of the arm 94 with the front apron portion 72 of the carriage. Any continued force applied to the arm 94 after. abutting the front apron portion 72, will impart slidably movement to the carriage so that it may be dis placed to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 carrying the lowermost newspaper therewith. 1

In order to impart the displacing force to the lever arm 94, the lever actuating member 22 is connected to an actuating shaft 98 rotatably supported between the side walls 14 of the enclosure assembly by means of the journal brackets 160 mounted internally of the enclosure assembly within the lower chamber thereof below the upper chamber .36. Also fixedly mounted between the side walls 14, is a stop member 102 arranged to be engaged by a projection'104 fixed to the shaft member 98 so as to limit the forward stroke of the actuating lever member 22 connected to the shaft member 98. The

shaft member 98 is also connected to a lever arm 106 movable below the upper chamber 36 so as to impart movement and force to the arm 94 as hereinbefore indicated. Accordingly, a link member 108 pivotally connects the arms 94 and 106. Also connected to the connecting pin 11% between the lever arm 1% and the link element 108, is a flexible connecting element 112 which is connected to the cable 114 extending out of a rewind mechanism 116 mounted on the back wall 16 of the enclosure assembly. Accordingly, forward displacement of the actuator lever member 22 which projects upwardly above the bottom supporting assembly 38 for convenient actuation by the customer, will cause unwinding of the cable 114 from the rewind mechanism 116 against the internal bias of the mechanism. When the actuating lever member 22 completes its forward stroke limited by the: stop 102, release thereof would permit the bias of the rewind mechanism 116 to move the actuating lever member 22 and the shaft connected thereto in a reverse direction toward its initially retracted position causing it to be relocked by the coin release mechanism 26 as hereinbefore mentioned It will be appreciated, howeven-that when the dispensing carriage is in the dispensing position illustrated in FIGURE 5, upon release of the actuating lever member, initial movement of the actuating shaft 98 in the return direction, will not rearwardly displace the dispensing carriage 32 but instead displace the lever arm 94 from abutting engagement with the front apron 72 to the limit stop 95. During the initial return movement of the linkages 106 and 108, positive retraction of the fold-engaging fingers will take place so as to release the partially withdrawn lowermost newspaper from the dispensing carriage before movement is imparted to the carriage in the return direction. After the arm 94 engages the limit stop 96, continued reverse movement of the lever arm 106 and link element 108 will cause retraction of the carriage leaving the projected forward portion of the lowermost newspaper behind particularly in view of the frictional engagement of the rod member '48 therewith.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 through 10, the various operational phases of the dispensing device will become more readily apparent. In the initial position of the dispensing device, as shown in FIGURE 6, the actuating lever 22 will be in its retracted position with the dispensing carriage 32 supporting, the forward portion of the lowermost newspaper 118 while the fold-engaging fingers 80 are generally aligned in a direction parallel to the direction of movement out of engagement with the newspaper fold. During the initial displacement of the lever actuator 22 as shown in FIGURE 7, only the fold-engaging finger members 8!) are displaced to positions perpendicular to the initial positions so as to engage the fold of the newspaper. Continued movement of the lever actuator in the forward direction, thereafter causes displacement of the dispensing carriage with the foldengaging finger members 8%) and the lowermost newspaper 118 frictionally retarded by the rod member '70 so as to smooth out any wrinkles or folds as well as to prevent movement therewith of any newspapers above the lowermost newspaper. When the lever actuator 22 is released at the end of its forward stroke as illustrated in FIGURE 8, the reverse displacing rewind mechanism 116 will effect initial return movement thereof to the position illustrated in FIGURE 9 during which initial return movement, only the fold-engaging fingers 80 are withdrawn from the newspaper fold. Continued return movement of the lever actuator 22 to its initial position, as illustrated in FIGURE 10, will retract the dispensing carriage 32 leaving the forward portion of the lowermost newspaper 118 exposed and in frictional engagement with the rod member 70. The customer may thereafter readily withdraw the newspaper completely, the dispensing device then being conditioned for dispensing another single newspaper when proper coinage is again deposited so as to release the lever actuator 22 for forward movement through another stroke.

From the foregoing description, the operation and utility of the newspaper dispensing device of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated that the dispensing device embodies several significant improvements and advantages over newspaper dispensing devices heretofore proposed, in that it does not involve the puncturing or frictional gripping of a newspaper. Instead, movement of the paper with the dispensing carriage is achieved by engagement of the newspaper fold through initial displacement of fold-engaging fingers sequentially followed by displacement of the dispensing carriage. It will also be noted that the newspaper is dispensed by the vending device of the present invention by a simple forward movement of an actuating lever and release thereof, requiring no complicated delay mechanisms or synchronizing device since the dispensing device is reconditioned for dispensing another newspaper whenever the customer withdraws the previously projected newspaper. It will also be appreciated that the adjustment for varying thicknesses of newspapers is accommodated and that no complicated frictional engaging devices are involved in connection with the withdrawal of the newspaper with the dispensing carriage or for properly positioning the newspapers within the storage chamher.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A newspaper vending machine comprising enclosure means for enclosing a stack of folded assemblies including a lowermost assembly of sheets downwardly inclined in a forward direction, carriage means slidably mounted below said stack of folded assemblies to support a forward portion of said lowermost assembly of sheets when said carriage means is in a retracted position and movable in said forward direction to a dispensing position, actuating means operatively mounted on the enclosure means for movement through a predetermined stroke, fold-engaging means operatively mounted on the carriage means for selective positioning between folds of said lowermost assembly of sheets to prevent movement thereof relative to the carriage means in one direction, connecting means operatively connecting said carriage means with the actuating means to selectively position said fold engaging means in response to initial displacement of the actuating means prior to subsequent displacement of the carriage means and the lowermost assembly of sheets to the dispensing position during said movement through the predetermined stroke, and reverse displacing means operatively connected to the actuating means for initially withdrawing the fold engaging means at the dispensing position and subsequently retracting the carriage means to the retracted position to leave said forward portion of said lowermost assembly of sheets withdrawn from the enclosure means.

2. A newspaper vending machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said enclosure means includes an upper chamber formed by vertical side, rear and front Walls, a downwardly inclined fixed supporting assembly for the sheets fixedly connected to said side and rear walls and terminating in spaced relation to said front wall through which.

said carriage means and the lowermost assembly of sheets may be displaced.

3. A newspaper vending machine as recited in claim 2, wherein said actuating means comprises a lever member pivotally mounted on said side walls below the upper chamber and projecting upwardly adjacent one of said side Walls above the supporting assembly, and a lever arm connected to said lever member for movement therewith between said side walls and below the upper chamber.

4. A newspaper vending machine as recited in claim 3, wherein said fold engaging means comprises a pair of tapered finger members rotatably mounted by said carriage means adjacent said side walls of the upper chamber and on opposite sides of the lowermost assembly of sheets forwardly of the fixed supporting assembly.

5. A newspaper vending machine as recited in claim 4 wherein said connecting means comprises positive drive means mounted on the carriage means to drivingly interconnect said pair of finger members for simultaneous angular displacement in opposite directions between positions parallel to the side walls and positions perpendicular thereto, transmitting means connected to said positive drive means and mounted on said carriage means for means operatively connecting said transmitting means to the actuating means and the reverse displacing meansfor imparting said limited relative movement thereto and displacing the carriage means relative to the enclosure means. r

6. A newspaper vending machine as recited in claim 5 wherein said reverse displacing means comprises rewind I means mounted within said enclosure means below the upper chamber and connected to the actuating means and the connecting means for imparting movement thereto in response to release of the actuating means at the dispensing position of the carriage means.

7. A newspaper vending machine as recitedin claim 1 wherein said fold engaging means comprises a pair of tapered finger members rotatably mounted by said carriage means on opposite sides of the lowermost assembly of sheets along said forward portions thereof.

8. A newspaper vending machine as recited in claim 7 wherein said connecting means comprises positive drive means mounted on the carriage means to drivingly interconnect said pair of finger members for simultaneous angular displacement in opposite directions between positions parallel to said forward direction and positions perpendicular thereto, transmitting means connected to said positive drive means and mounted on said carriage means for limited relative movement with respect thereto, and link means operatively connecting said transmitting means to the actuating means and the reverse displacing means for imparting said limited relative movement thereto and displacing the carriage means relative to the enclosure means.

9. A newspaper vending machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises positive drive means mounted on the carriage means to drivingly displace said fold engaging means between'positions parallel to said forward direction and positions perpendicular thereto, transmitting means connected to said positive drive means and mounted on said carriage means for limited of the actuating means at the dispensing position of the carriage means.

11. A newspaper vending machine comprising enclosure means for supporting a stack of folded newspapers, dispensing means movably mounted in the enclosure means for movement between a retracted position and a projecting position with respect to the enclosure means, fold engaging means mounted on said dispensing means for movement relative thereto between limits into and out of engagement with a folded newspaper, actuating means operatively connected to said fold engaging means for imparting movement thereto immediately preceding displacement of the dispensing means between 7 said positions thereof, means for frictionally retarding movement of said folded newspaper with the dispensing means to hold said newspaper in a projected position upon displacement of the dispensing means to the retracted position, and means mounted on the dispensing means for limiting movement of said fold-engaging means relative to said dispensing means to effect said displacement of the dispensing means relative to the enclosure means.

12. A newspaper vending machine comprising enclosure means for supporting a stack of folded newspapers, dispensing means movably mounted in the enclosure means for movement between a retracted position and a projecting position with respect to the enclosure means, fold engaging means movably mounted on said dispensing means, actuating means operatively connected to the fold engaging meansfor imparting positive movement thereto into and out of engagement with a folded newspaper sequentially preceding displacement of the dispensing means between-said positions thereof, and fixedly positioned means engaging said folded newspaper for frictionally retarding movement thereof with the dispensing means to hold said newspaper in a projected position upon movement of the dispensing means by the actuating means to the retracted position.

13.-An apparatus for singly dispensing folded newspapers having a paper storing chamber, a dispensing carriage slidably mounted below said storing chamber for movement between a retracted position and an extended position, fold engaging means mounted on the carriage for Withdrawing a newspaper'from the storing chamber upon displacement of the carriage to the extended position, actuating means movable through a predetermined stroke, limit means mounted on the carriage and engageable with the actuating means for limiting initial movement thereof relative to the carriage during each of said predetermined strokes to subsequently effect displacement of the carriage, means operatively connecting said actuating means to the fold engaging means for displacement thereof into and out of engagement with a newspaper in response to said initial movement, and means for preventing retraction of the newspaper with the carriage when returned to the retracted position by the actuating means.

- 14. An apparatus for singly dispensing folded newspapers having a paper storing chamber, a dispensing carriage slidably mounted below said storing chamber for movement between a retracted position and an extended position, fold engaging means mounted on the carriage for withdrawing a newspaper from the storing chamber upon displacement oftthe carriage to the extended position, actuating means movable through a predetermined forward stroke in one direction for initially projecting the fold engaging means into engagement with a newspaper and subsequently'displacing the carriage to the extended position, means responsive to release of the actuating means for immediately retracting the actuating means to initially withdraw the fold engaging means and subsequently displace the carriage to the retracted position and means for frictionally retarding movement of the newspaper with the carriage in both directions to prevent withdrawal when disengaged by the fold engaging means.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 689,798 Francisco Dec. 24 1901 868,773 Gor han et al. Oct. 22, 1907 1,186,887 Cooley June 13, 1916 1,222,471 Rubenstein Apr. 10, 1917 1,245,405 Turney Nov. 6, 1917 2,006,100 Hight et al. June 25, 1935 2,772,021 Kettles Nov. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 382,840 France Feb. 17, 1908 

1. A NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE COMPRISING ENCLOSURE MEANS FOR ENCLOSING A STACK OF FOLDED ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING A LOWERMOST ASSEMBLY OF SHEETS DOWNWARDLY INCLINED IN A FORWARD DIRECTION, CARRIAGE MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED BELOW SAID STACK OF FOLDED ASSEMBLIES TO SUPPORT A FORWARD PORTION OF SAID LOWERMOST ASSEMBLY OF SHEETS WHEN SAID CARRIAGE MEANS IS IN A RETRACTED POSITION AND MOVABLE IN SAID FORWARD DIRECTION TO A DISPENSING POSITION, ACTUATING MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON THE ENCLOSURE MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH A PREDETERMINED STROKE, FOLD-ENGAGING MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON THE CARRIAGE MEANS FOR SELECTIVE POSITIONING BETWEEN FOLDS OF SAID LOWERMOST ASSEMBLY OF SHEETS TO PREVENT MOVEMENT THEREOF RELATIVE TO THE CARRIAGE MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION, CONNECTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID CARRIAGE MEANS WITH THE ACTUATING MEANS TO SELECTIVELY POSITION SAID FOLD ENGAGING MEANS IN RESPONSE TO INITIAL DISPLACEMENT OF THE ACTUATING MEANS PRIOR TO SUBSEQUENT DISPLACEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE MEANS AND THE LOWERMOST ASSEMBLY OF SHEETS 